Former El Pasoan and current Harris County District Court Judge Marc Carter will receive the William H. Rehnquist Award, one of the nation’s highest judicial honors, for his work in creating Texas’ first veterans treatment court.

“It is a great, great honor,” Carter said. “For me, the best thing about getting the award is that it is highlighting the work that we are doing in Texas for veterans — and now across the country. It is a validation about what we have been trying to accomplish in Texas, which is to recognize the struggles of our veteran community and how there is this transition from military life to civilian life that often leaves a big void.”

Carter, who graduated from Eastwood High School in 1977, will receive the award from the National Center for State Courts. Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts Jr. will present the award to Carter during a dinner ceremony Thursday at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Carter, who is the judge in the 228th Criminal District Court in Harris County, is being honored for his work in creating one of the first veterans courts in the county, “which serves as a model for veteran treatment courts across the country,” officials said.

Each state nominated a judge for the award. Carter was Texas’ nominee and was then selected by the National Center for State Courts to receive it.

“The National Center is honored to present the Rehnquist Award to a state court judge who demonstrates the power of leading by example,” National Center for State Courts President Mary C. McQueen said in a statement. “Judge Carter is a veteran who is committed to helping veterans charged with criminal offenses in state courts get a second chance.”

She added, “Judge Carter recognized that for many veterans who come to court with substance abuse problems, mental health disorders and other issues, they need rehabilitative services, not incarceration. His commitment, compassion and leadership for veteran treatment courts serve as a national model.”

The Harris County veterans treatment court, which was created in 2009, was the first in Texas, officials said. El Paso was the second area in Texas to create a veterans court, also in 2009.

“They (veterans) go from a small community where they feel like they have a purpose and are held accountable to a civilian world where they are often alienated,” Carter said. “The concept I have been focused on is community. I tell people that the way we go to war is different than the way we went to war in World War II.”

Carter said in World War II the entire nation was involved in the fight, with people back in the U.S. spearheading efforts to help win the war, while now military members go off to war with the community not truly involved.

“In World War II when the United States went to war, the entire country helped out,” Carter said. “The people who didn’t go to war were the exception as opposed to the rule. Even the people that stayed at home who couldn’t fight still contributed to the war effort, and when these soldiers came back to U.S., the entire country had been to war with them and the country healed together.”

He added, “Today what happens is that America doesn’t go to war. Many stay home and don’t do something to help in the war effort like they did in World War II. So what is happening now is that these veterans are coming home and feeling alienated.”

Carter created the veterans treatment court to help veterans who have committed a crime get the help they need instead of locking them away in jail, he said.

The court aims to increase access to mental health and addiction treatment for veterans. The veterans in the court are mostly facing felonies. The court’s goal is to divert veterans directly into Department of Veterans Affairs treatment services.

“This is a nonadversarial program that is focused on veterans and restoring their lives and helping them become productive citizens,” Carter said.

He said the program works in collaboration with VA hospitals, the District Attorney’s Office and other interested stakeholders.

"It is a two-year program where we make sure they get the help they are entitled to, especial when it comes to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or addictions,” he said.

The program also helps veterans go back to school, find jobs and reintegrate into society, Carter said.

“These men and women are all charged with felonies, but in the end if they are successful, they usually are put on pre-trial diversion, so when they complete the program the felony is wiped away and they have a clean record. They are working, drug free and getting treatment for their PTSD. This gives them an opportunity for a fresh start.”

The veterans treatment court focuses on veterans who have committed violent crimes and works to get them proper medical treatment so they can better deal with PTSD and control their anger.

“It was political for me to go to bat for people who were veterans who were charged with offenses that involved violence like assault or aggravated assault,” Carter said. “It is easy to say we are going to help the people who have nonviolent offenses and just deal with the drug and alcohol charges. That's pretty easy, but we know that PTSD is different, especially when we talk about military veterans, because oftentimes that frustration comes out in the form of anger.”

He added, “The important thing about these cases that involve violence is that it involves mental health issues. …We have had our greatest success with PTSD and anger-related issues, because once we get to the core issue that is causing the anger and once they learn to deal with the anger, they are not fighting or hurting anyone anymore.”

According to Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, the court has helped reduce jail time, costs and recidivism. It also has improved mental health recovery and successful re-entry of veterans into the community.

“Judge Carter has been a tremendous leader in Texas in the promulgation of veterans courts, and he has been instrumental in training judges and court leaders from across the country on the concepts he has employed in his court. … His example and leadership have led to the establishment of 26 veterans treatment courts in Texas,” Hecht said in a letter of recommendation nominating Carter for the award.

Carter, 57, has several connections to El Paso, including living in the city when his father was stationed at Fort Bliss. Carter lived in El Paso when he was in second grade, then again in fourth grade and stayed in El Paso from eighth grade until he graduated from Eastwood High School.

“I love El Paso and it was a big part of life as I was an Army brat,” Carter said. “I still have family who lives in El Paso, so I visit El Paso a lot. I have great memories of playing at Album Park and great memories of living in the El Paso, including one time when my dad came back from the Vietnam War and surprised us when he came back from the war. That is how we found out our dad made it back from Vietnam. El Paso was and still is very special to me.”

Carter and his family have a long military history, including his father serving in the U.S. Army as an air defense artillery officer, which was a position his brother also held in the Army.

Carter was a captain in the U.S. Army and served as a military intelligence officer from 1981 to 1988. His other brother served in the U.S. Air Force and Carter’s nephew is a West Point graduate who is currently serving overseas.